You can add to Soundbooth's built-in functions through the use of VST effects. These can be downloaded from various sites on the internet into a particular directory within the Soundbooth installation, and then access via Soundbooth's effects rack or effects menu.

Not all available VST effects will work with Soundbooth, however. Some will simply be ignored, others will cause the program to crash. But those described below seem to work well in Soundbooth following a short stereo file test of each on my system, running under Windows XP. They may work under Vista.

Use of VST effects in Soundbooth is not supported by Adobe. This post represents end-user unofficial advice. Check out the correct functioning of the effects listed on your own system using unimportant sound files before using them, at your own risk, on your real work. But if you do encounter a problem with an effect you've installed yourself, simply deleting it from the Soundbooth program directory system should restore the program to normal operation.

Installing VST effects for Soundbooth in Windows XP - it's not hard!

Quit Soundbooth.

Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Soundbooth CS3\Plug-ins\Common\VSTPlugins\
(but do not rename or delete or otherwise interfere with any files in that folder - Soundbooth needs them to function).

Within that folder, create a new folder which you could name "My Plugins". The name doesn't matter - creating the folder and keeping all downloaded effects inside it is simply a matter of good housekeeping.

When you download an effect you will see a file with a ".dll" extension - like "reverb.dll" for instance. Simply put that file into the "My Plugins" folder you've created.

Sometimes there will be additional files in the download and hopefully a readme file will tell you what to do with them. If in doubt, copy the lot into the "My Plugins" folder.

Run Soundbooth again, open an audio file, and you should be able to see the effect's name in the Effects menu or Effects Rack. When you have loaded the effect in the Soundbooth effects rack, click on "Settings" to display the effect's interface.

Useful freeware/donationware VST effects that should work in Soundbooth

"Inspector" from http://www.rogernicholsdigital.com/inspector.html

"Inspector is a compact, but powerful, analysis tool. From spectral analysis to extensive metering, Inspector gives you a full picture of your audio. Use the spectrum analyzer to get a clear and accurate representation of your mix. The peak and RMS meters, with customizable caution and warning zones, allow you to visualize and quantify the levels of your audio. The balance meter provides a visual indication of the balance relationship between channels."

My rating - handy and easy to use. Just for analysis - it will not change your audio.

This effect provides "extended control of amplitude, phase and pan (stereo version) in the insert chain as well as fine metering, with user configurable industry standard parameter options".

My rating - good looking, very handy in Soundbooth, and easy to use. Check the effect's documentation for how to display its additional setup parameters.

"Stereo Tools" from http://www.kellyindustries.com/stereo_tools.html

"The Stereo Tools VST Plug-in is a simple to use utility plug-in that allows you to pan or position both the left and right channels independently of one another. It works well for stereo files that you don't want to have to convert to mono or if you want to fix a problem with the stereo file. For instance with the Stereo Tools plug-in you can MUTE one side of the file and then pan or position the other side to the center. You can also use the plug-in to remove the center information (voice remover), as well as sum both the left and right channels together. You can also work with files in the Mid/Side format."

My rating - a good analyser, easy to use but you need to be able to understand what it's showing you.

"Gonio3" from http://www.uk-music.de/gonio.html

"An Audio Vector Oscilloscope (Goniometer). It can give you a detailed picture of the relationships of a stereo signal. This is often used to watch for mono compatibility of a recording."

My rating - very handy for visual checking of the stereo image.

"Voxengo MSED" from http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/

"MSED is a mid/side encoder/decoder plug-in which encodes (splits) the incoming stereo signal into two components: mid/side or, alternatively, mono/stereo pair, and vice versa: decodes mid/side signal pair into stereo signal. MSED is also able to work in the in-line mode with the ability to adjust mid and side channels' gain without the need of inserting two MSED plug-ins in sequence."

My rating - essential when working with MS format audio. Very handy with any audio to widen or narrow the stereo image. Easy to use.

"Voxengo Recorder" from http://www.voxengo.com/product/recorder/

This effect records the audio passing through it to a new wave file. So you could for instance use it in conjunction with another effect, like the FreeG level control, to play back an audio file in Soundbooth while manually changing the level and/or pan in real time. This will create a new file containing the level changes you have made. Or you could use it with a reverb effect to gradually add reverb as you play back a file, creating a new file containing that gradual change. Remember to add to to the effects rack after the other effects.

It can also play back your audio through a different sound card than the one you've specified for normal output in Soundbooth, which might be handy for some people.

My rating - handy all-in-one tool for eq, compression, level control and metering. Perhaps not for novice users. Right click on the controls for unexpected options.

"A0 Mastering Equaliser" from http://www.a0audio.com/

This is a 8 band parametric equaliser for advanced users.

"Rubberfilter" from http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2842.html

"Rubberfilter offers four classic filter modes to cut frequencies with up to 384 dB/Oct. It removes frequencies in any audio signal, while providing an additional creative purpose. Rubberfilter has a controllable filter order of 6 dB/Oct up to 384 dB/Oct."

My rating - useful for precise removal of unwanted frequencies in your audio, but probably best for advanced users.

"Classic EQ" from http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php

"Classic EQ is a 7 Band Stereo Equaliser with a warm analog sound, well suited to make non-surgical tonal corrections on all instruments, vocals and final mixes. The passive and additive structure, together with unique Warm and Saturation algorithms, produces warm and pleasant sound, just like some of the most expensive vintage gear. The left and right channels can be adjusted individually or linked together."

My rating - chiefly useful for applying EQ to each channel of a stereo file separately. Easy to use.

"The Classic Master Limiter VST plugin is specially designed to boost the overall level of your final mixes, but is also highly useable on very dynamic instruments. With just one control on the front panel operation is as simple as it gets; just turn the Threshold down and hear how your mixes gets louder and louder. Very high compression ratios can be obtained without changing the balance of the mix."

My rating - very easy to use, very effective. It does not change the sound of your audio when not limiting.

"Classic Reverb" from http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php

"Classic Reverb is a nice and smooth reverb that does a good job on almost any instrument. It can be adjusted to sound like most any acoustic space, ranging from a small shower to a large concert hall. With the "Hi-Damping" control, it is possible to change the sound from bright and sibilant to a more natural / warmer sound."

My rating - pretty easy to use and you should get good results. Reverbs are very much a matter of taste. I very much like this one, but you'll have to decide for yourself!

"GlaceVerb" from http://www.dasample.com/index.php?show=glaceverb

A very popular freeware reverb. You will either love it or hate it. It provides some unusual simulations of special spaces, and the presets are well worth exploring (eg "Metal tube inside").

To see the whole of this long post, please click on "Show all messages"

Again, not so obvious what all the knobs do but there are a few good presets.

"FreeVerbToo16" from http://www.sinusweb.de/freetoo.html

Quite easy to use and with some novel features. A good collection of presets.

"RoomMachine844" from http://www.sinusweb.de/freetoo.html

"Simulates rooms the physical way. Two virtual loudspeakers and two virtual microphones can be positioned freely. RoomMachine 844 takes care of the rest. RoomMachine 844 is a real time, digital audio room simulator capable of capturing the characteristic spacial sound of natural rooms.

RoomMachine 844 is not a reverb effect that delivers long, silky reverberation tails (try R2 or Reverb.it if you are looking for that), instead RoomMachine focuses on early reflections determined by the position of sound source and listener. RoomMachine 844 puts your track right into the room. Can be used as a master effect but is even more useful on single tracks or sections."

My rating - unusual, easy to use reverb for simulating small spaces rather than halls.

To see the whole of this long post, please click on "Show All Messages"

Do suggest other freeware/donationware VST effects which may be useful to other members - but please
try them on your own system first before posting and check that they do actually work in Soundbooth.

Can't help with that question at all, Steve - I'm totally PC based. I think the range of free VST effects for the Mac is small compared to those for the PC, apart from whether they'd work at all in Soundbooth.

Inspector is a compact, but powerful, analysis tool. From spectral analysis to extensive metering, Inspector gives you a full picture of your audio. Use the spectrum analyzer to get a clear and accurate representation of your mix. The peak and RMS meters, with customizable caution and warning zones, allow you to visualize and quantify the levels of your audio. The balance meter provides a visual indication of the balance relationship between channels.
Cat food Inspector is a compact, but powerful, analysis tool. From spectral analysis to extensive metering, Inspector gives you a full picture of your audio. Use the spectrum analyzer to get a clear and accurate representation of your mix. The peak and RMS meters, with customizable caution and warning zones, allow you to visualize and quantify the levels of your audio. The balance meter provides a visual indication of the balance relationship between channels.

My rating - handy and easy to use. Just for analysis - it will not change your audio.

"Stereo Tools" from "http://www.kellyindustries.com/stereo_tools.html " or from http://www.rogernicholsdigital.com/inspector.html or From the other website
foodThe Stereo Tools VST Plug-in is a simple to use utility plug-in that allows you to pan or position both the left and right channels independently of one another. It works well for stereo files that you don't want to have to convert to mono or if you want to fix a problem with the stereo file
. For instance with the Stereo Tools plug-in you can MUTE one side of the file and then pan or position the other side to the center. You can also use the plug-in to remove the center information (voice remover), as well as sum both the left and right channels together. You can also work with files in the Mid/Side format.
very handy and simple to use, ,,Just wonderful,,
I think this is very helpful.